The form guide will show that neither Linda Meech nor Ken Keys came away from Tuesday’s provincial meeting at Wangaratta a winner but their win with veteran stayer Like A Carousel in Saturday’s Pakenham Cup (2500m) will long be remembered by the pair as evidence to the contrary.

Ken Keys and Linda Meech, picture Quentinjlang.com

Meech had never ridden the eight-year-old prior to Saturday but, after an unplaced effort on maiden galloper Madam Stowell in a 1300m maiden on Tuesday, Keys offered her the ride in the $250,000 Listed contest.

The union proved fruitful as the son of Helike – who was unwanted by punters and sent out a $41 outsider - finished powerfully to reel in fellow roughie Khartoum and race favourite Oncidium Ruler in the final 100m.

“I was at Wangaratta on Tuesday and we had a maiden that was a bit disappointing but he said to me whether I’d like to ride Like A Carousel,” Meech said.

“I spoke to my manager and when I told him he hung up on me and rang Ken straight away.

“He’s been a great old horse for Ken and it’s really nice to get the win for him.”

A delighted Keys admitted that while he rated Like A Carousel a rough place chance, not even he foresaw victory for the galloper who was on the seven-day back-up from a solid first-up run Sandown.

A winner over hurdles in June, the gelding hadn’t saluted on the flat since his Harry White Classic (2400m) win in September 2014. But Keys pointed to bold performances in the 2015 Sydney Cup and 2015 Sandown Cup as evidence of his underlying quality over staying trips.

“I thought he might be a place chance,” Keys said.

“But this horse could’ve won two Sandown Cups and he was third in a Sydney Cup and they weren’t flukes.

“This horse has in probably 20 of his starts has just had no luck, so to see it all come together today was just fantastic.

“It was a bit of a punt to turn him around that quick but we looked at that as a trial. He’s got unbelievable stamina and he’s proved that today.”

While he didn’t rule out a tilt at the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day, Keys said Like A Carousel could be freshened for next year’s jumps racing season.



Like A Carousel and Meech, picture Quentinjlang.com